Seminary, Jan. 12.
. . . I have allowed more time than usual to pass without
writing. Indeed I have had a good many calls upon my time not properly
belonging to me. The steward was sick of sore throat that made it imprudent of
him to come so I had to supervise his mess affairs. I had a parcel of lazy
negroes scrubbing and cleaning, and lastly new cadets arriving and receiving
their outfits. I have to do everything but teach. We have now forty cadets all
at work reciting in mathematics, French, and Latin, also drilling once a day. I
drill one squad, but as soon as I get a few of the best far enough advanced to
help I will simply overlook. Hereafter I will have none of this to do.
Everything moves along satisfactorily, all seem pleased, and
gentlemen have been here from New Orleans and other distant points who are much
pleased. I have knowledge of more cadets coming, and this being the first term
and being preceded by so much doubt I don't know that we have reason to be
disappointed with only forty. The legislature meets next Monday, and then will
begin the free discussion which will settle the fact of professors' houses and
other little detailed improvements which will go far to make my position here
comfortable or otherwise.
Nobody has said boo about John. Indeed I have two letters
from John which I showed to General Graham who gave them to the senator from
this Parish, who took them to Baton Rouge. In them John tells me he signed the
Helper card without seeing it, not knowing it, but after Clark1
introduced his resolution he would make no disclaimer. He was right, and all
men acquainted with the facts will say so. Even southern men. The supervisors
can't spare me. I manage their affairs to their perfect satisfaction, and all
here in the parish would never think of complicating me. But the legislature
may – we shall soon see. . .
_______________
1 John B. Clark, a member of Congress from
Missouri, introduced a resolution to the effect that no person who endorsed
Helper's book was fit to be speaker of the House of Representatives. — Ed.
SOURCE: Walter L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman
as College President, p. 117-8
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